The Young Bucks have solidified themselves as one of the most accomplished teams in the past decade. They have won titles all around the world, but it isn’t just their insane championship catalog that has accounted for their massive success so far. No, it is the quality of their matches that is seen to lend them credibility as one of the best tag teams in the world today.
With success, of course, has come controversy. It is difficult to argue that the very work rate that has solidified the Young Bucks’ status as one of the best duos in pro wrestling has made them controversial figures as well. To many, they are untouchable when it comes to match quality. For others, they are glorified performers with a penchant for spots and superkicks.
One thing is for certain: The Young Bucks have contributed to the ever-evolving landscape of professional wrestling in more than one way. Their success is a testament to the years of blood, sweat, and tears they’ve put to make it to where they are today. Also, they know how to work the fans, in the ring and behind the scenes.
With that said, let’s take a look at their five best matches in AEW.
Young Bucks vs. FTR (Full Gear 2020)
When FTR debuted in AEW by saving the Young Bucks from The Butcher and The Blade, fans knew the clash was inevitable. Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler played babyfaces for weeks before they turned heel on the August 12, 2020, episode of Dynamite.
The heel turn led to a full-fledged feud with the Bucks. The two teams met in a series of multi-man matches before finally coming face to face in traditional tag team action at Full Gear 2020.
The month-long build-up resulted in an all-time epic clash as FTR and the Bucks pulled out everything in their arsenal for the win. The match paid homage to previous tag team outings and served to remind the fans why FTR and Bucks were the masters of their craft.
The ending saw Wheeler miss a springboard 450 splash on Matt Jackson, who performed a superkick on him to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championship.
Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros. (All Out 2019)
The Young Bucks and Lucha Bros spent 2019 in a AAA World Tag Team Championship program. Fenix and Penta had failed to beat Matt and Nick Jackson at the inaugural Double or Nothing event on May 25, 2019.
The two teams met again at All Out 2019, with the Jackson brothers going after Lucha Bros. for the titles in a tag team ladder match. The in-ring action was top-notch and featured some insane spots, including a package piledriver on the ladder. In the end, Fenix and Penta retained their AAA World Tag Team Championship against the Young Bucks.
Stadium Stampede Match (Double or Nothing 2020)
The Young Bucks have been involved in some of the wildest matches in AEW, but their Stadium Stampede clash against The Inner Circle is arguably the wildest of them all. AEW, like every other spectator sport, at the time, had to rely on improvisation to make up for the lack of crowd during matches.
This led to one of the most interesting gimmick matches ever produced in company history. The Stadium Stampeded match was filmed at the Daily’s Place TIAA Bank Field and featured all sorts of madness and chaos with an epic dose of entertainment.
From Hangman running his horse across the stadium to Sammy Guevara getting run over by a golf cart with Kenny Omega and Matt Hardy inside, Stadium Stampeded was the best of AEW in otherwise worst times.
Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros (All Out 2021)
After pitting the Young Bucks and Lucha Bros. in the ladder tag team match at All Out 2019, Tony Khan upped the ante by introducing a steel cage to the mix. The two teams met for Matt and Nick Jackson’s AEW World Tag Team Championship at All Out 2021.
The in-ring action more than delivered and would go on to be considered the best in the two-on-two setting involving the two teams. All four men had the crowd on their feet with jaw-dropping sequences and spectacular action.
The addition of blood added to the intense drama, which culminated in a much-deserved win for Fenix and Penta as they defeated their archrivals to become the AEW World Tag Team Champions.
Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega and Hangman Page (Revolution 2020)
It is crazy to think that the Young Bucks’ best tag team match happened during the pandemic era AEW. Not only is the Bucks versus Kenny Omega and Hangman Page considered the best tag team match in AEW, but it is also viewed by many (including Dave Meltzer) as the greatest tag team match in the history of sports entertainment.
Taking place at Revolution 2020, this AEW World Tag Team Championship match pitted the brothers against reigning champions and friends Omega and Page. Matt and Nick Jackson teased a major heel turn by resorting to their Bullet Club heel tactics on their Elite brethren. Hostility played a great part in the overall in-ring action that was nothing short of brilliant.
In the end, the champions came out on top but at the cost of mutual respect and admiration. Omega foreshadowed his eventual heel turn by ignoring his own partner, Page to mend ties with Matt and Nick.
Honorable Mentions
Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros (Double or Nothing 2019)
The Young Bucks kicked off their AEW PPV run in grand fashion with a history-making performance against the supremely talented Lucha Bros. at the inaugural Double or Nothing event in Las Vegas in 2019.
Fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena popped huge for the straight-up wrestling match that had followed the five-star classic Cody Rhodes vs. Dustin Rhodes during the night. Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero brought out the best in Matt and Nick (and vice versa) in front of a red-hot Las Vegas crowd.
Anarchy in the Arena Match (Double or Nothing 2023)
Bryan Danielson’s heel turn at the expense of Kenny Omega led to an all-out faction war between BCC and The Elite. The two factions met in the main event of Double or Nothing 2023 in an Anarchy in the Arena match.
The match was not for the faint of heart, as it soon turned into a bloodbath. Violence was on full display with both teams, especially Jon Moxley in putting thumbtacks in each other’s mouths. The match also featured a creative yet quite disturbing spot in an exploding superkick, courtesy of Matt Jackson.
The chaos was enough to pop a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer.
Also read: Bryan Danielson’s 5 Best AEW Feuds
